Cash register



'7 Sheets-Sheet l 12 I INVENTOR flyrca/ Demeu/enaere BY g 5 ATTORNEYS M. DEMEULENAERE CASH REGISTER June 21, 1949.

Original Filed April 18, 1935 M 2 a 3 e 7 a R, 4 o ,s 0' S Y 2 a m E e E6 N h VF R S N m 7 4% k \k I g E MW/ R QQ E Am MY NH MB. m 44 um M EH Ms u 0 M 5 3 9 1 Q m Qvm 1 a M. M m km 1 1 l ,l n n m h 0 M. DEMEULENAERE Jung 21, 1949.

CASH REGISTER 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed April 18, 1935 INVENTOR Jig-'30 naer'a .7" %ZMM W 9% ATTORNEYS June 21, 1949. M. DEMEULENAERE 2,473,509

CASH REGISTER Original Filed April 18, 1935 'fSheets-Sheet 4 zrmfw BY Marcel flemeu [enaerfe CMM M will AT TORNEYS June 21, 1949. M. DEMEULENAERE 2,473,509

' CASH REGISTER Original Filed April 18, 1955 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 l I BY 39 .13

INVENTOR )Iama/ Demeu/enaerc ATTORNEYS June 21, 1949.

M. DEMIEULENAERE CASH REGISTER Original Filed April 18, 1935 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 1'1: y llllilllilln- II'II ATTORNEYS June 21, 1949. M. DEMEULENAERE 'CAsH REGISTER Original Filed April 18, 19:55

' 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 I INVENTOR flared Demau/enaer'e,

BY I uz w ATII'ORNEYS Patented June 21, 1949 CASH REGISTER Marcel Demeulenaerc, Flushing, N. Y.

Original application April 18, 1935, Serial No. 17,119. Divided and this application March 4, 1942, Serial No. 433,398. In Belgium January 13 Claims. 1

This is a division of my application Serial Number 17,119, filed April 18, 1935, and issued May 5, 1942, Patent Number 2,282,120,

My invention relates to cash registers, and has for its primary object to provide a cash register which is capable of carrying out all the necessary or desired operations, whilst having an extremely simple and strong mechanism, operated by a small number of parts, the manipulation of which is rapid and convenient.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cash register having a plurality of totalisers, some of said totalisers (hereinafter call d general totalisers) partaking in all registering operations, the other totalisers (hereinafter called clerlrs totalisers) partaking only in certain predetermined operations.

A further object is to provide a cash register, in which all the totalisers are actuated by a single operating member adapted to effect both the selection of the totaliser or totalisers to participate in the operation to be registered, and the actuation of the totalisers selected.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a cash register having for each totaliser a carry-over mechanism, the carry-overs becoming efiective only on the intervention of a member independent of the operating member, thus permitting the correction of any error in a registration.

A still further object of the invention is to provide, in the cash register, a travelling printing mechanism adapted to print checking tickets after each operation and to print, when desired, the amounts accumulated on any of the totalisers.

A still further object is to arrange the printing mechanism in such manner, that it cooperates with the totalisers in order to reset the totaliser discs to zero.

An approved embodiment of the invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a front view, partly in longitudinal section of the whole cash register;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the displaceable supporting means for the totaliser discs and related pawls Figures 3 to 7 are cross-sections through the lines III-III, IV--IV VII-VII, respectively of Figure 2;

Fig. 7a is a perspective view of the right-hand part of Figure 2.

Figure 8 shows in front view members which, in Figure 1, are hidden;

Figure 9 is a view on a larger scale of the lefthand part of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a cross-section on the line X-X of Figure 8;

Figure 11 shows in front view a detail of Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a cross-section on the line Y1 XII of Figure 8;

Figure 13 shows on a large scale the manipulating and escape mechanism;

Figure 14 is a longitudinal section on the line XIV-XIV of Figure 13;

Figures 15 and 16 are two partial cross-sections on an enlarged scale on lines XV V and XVI- XVI respectively on Figure 1 to show two different selectors of partial totalisers;

Figure 16a is an axial section, on an enlarged scale, of the selector shown in Fig. 16;

Figure 162) is a cross-section on line bb of Fig. 16a;

Figure is a perspective view of one half of the selector, on line 0-0 of Fig. 1612;

Figure 17 is a cross-section on the line XVII- XVII of Figure 18, showing a selector and a carry-over mechanism;

Figures 17a, 17b and are sectional views each on line :z:x of Fig. 18a, illustrating different positions, and Figure 17d is a sectional view on line zz of Fig. 18a.

Figure 18 is a longitudinal section of a clerks totaliser and of its selector;

Figure 18a is a sectional view similar to Fig. 18, with parts in another position.

Figure 19 is a cross-section on the line XIX XIX of Figure 20, showing the detail of a counter of the operations of a clerk's totaliser;

Figure 20 is a plan view of this counter, in the direction of the arrows XX--XX of Figure 19;

Figure 21 is a side view of the printing mechanism, and

Figure 22-is a front view thereof omitting certain parts.

Figure 23 shows in side view on a smaller scale the ticket mechanism, and

Figure 24 is a plan view of this mechanism.

Figure 25 is a cross section on broken line XXVXXV of Figure 1.

Figure 26 is a cross-section on the broken line XXVI-XXVI of Fig. 1.

Figure 27 is a diagrammatic view expressly for the purpose ofshowing the angular disposition of theseveral sets of type on one of the character wheels.

The cash register shown on the drawings comprises, from left to right on Figure 1, a general totaliser G, a daily totaliser Q, a first clerks totaliser A with operation counter A and a second clerks totaliser B with operation counter B It permits, for example, to register separatel the operations of two salesmen on the totalisers A and B, of counting the number of these operations on the counting mechanisms A B of registering on the daily totaliser Q all the opera-tions carried out by the two salesmen in one day, and of registering the whole of the operations of a week or of a month, for example, on the general totaliser G. Furthermore, an indicator I to the right of the register indicates the amount of each operation.

The various totalisers and counters, as also the indicator, are each constituted by a group of annular discs It], all identical, each provided with ten teeth bearing the numbers to 9. Distance pieces ll separate the groups of discs and prevent them from shifting in the axial direction.

All the discs ID are provided with axial bores and fitted freely on a common shaft or spindle 12 which is mounted horizontally between a bracket [3 and the right-hand side wall of the frame M of the register, so .as to be able to rotate in ball bearings. Bored out at I 5 and I5 at the two extremities, this spindle 12 has furthermore a longitudinal groove I6 of rectangular section in which is fitted a flat bar I] forced towards the right by a spring l8 fitted .in the hollow l5, and rigidly connected to the piston l9 by screws, said piston I9 being adapted to slide in the hollow part l5 and having a projecting rack 20.

Under the action of the piston [9 meme direction, and of the resetting spring 18 in the other direction, the bar I! can slide axially in the groove it of the spindle l2, executing a step-by-step movement controlled by an escapement which comprises the .rack .20 with circular teeth and two pawls 2|, 22 shown in detail on Figures 13 and 14. Each axial displacement of the bar, permitted by the escapement, corresponds to the distance from center to center between two successive discs I0 adjacent to each other of the totaliser. This bar l1, movable axially in the groove l6 of the spindle I2, is also movable angularly with this spindle and it constitutes the operating member of the discs.

The bar I! and yoke 23 are connected in the manner represented in Figs. 1 and 3. Yoke 23 comprises two plates screwed together (Fig. 1). A small pin carried by bar I! (Fig. 3) engages in a circular groove between the two plates of the yoke, so that the bar I! may be rotated with respect to yoke 23, while the bar and yoke are locked together as regards axial movements.

In its axial movement, the bar I! carries with it by the yoke 23 a set of pawls 24 (Figs. 1, l7 and 18) engaging yieldingly with the teeth of the totaliser discs Ill. Each pawl is provided with an eye 25, and said pawls are fitted side by side by their eyes on a sleeve 28 axially rigid with the yoke 23 and adapted to slide on a fixed spindle 27 parallel to the spindle 12. The set of pawls 24 constitutes the means blocking the discs.

The bar I! and the set or comb of pawls 24 are axially movable together as a unit, the set of pawls of the unit moving on the outside of the totaliser discs I0 whilst the bar I? moves inside the discs I0 and can furthermore rotate together with the spindle l2 about the axis ofsaid spindle.

The walls of the bores of the annular discs Ii! are each formed with a rim of notches comprising ten round holes 28 each communicating by a constricted neck 29 (Figure 19) with the centralopen ell) 4 part of the disc filled by the spindle 12. Due to the pawls Z4 engagin with the teeth of the discs and holding these in a correct angular position. the holes 28 of the different discs are always in line, and formed around the spindle l2 ten tunnels in each totaliser.

In these tunnels there engage and slide on an axial displacement of the bar ll, driving projec tions or buttons 33 projecting from the longitudinal free face of the bar ll. These buttons have a spherical head adapted to the diameter of the holes 28 of the discs il, a restricted neck being able to pass in the restricted part of these holes and a cylindrical body fitted in a recess of the bar l1.

There is a button 36 on the bar totaliser G, Q, A, 18, and for the totaliser G of the daily totaliser Q and of indicator I are fixed in the bar ll. The buttons 33", 38 of the clerks totalisers are to disappear in their recesses 53!; against the action or a spring 32 (Figures 15, 16). This disappean ance is necessary to permit the selective control of one or the other of the clerks totalisers A, B.

The selection is efiected by means of a special arrangement of the fixed parts H 1 E (Figures 15, 16) serving as selectors, which are at the l t of the partial totalisers (Figure l) and compr each a circular chamber 33 33 of less epth than said selectors, the bottom of said chambers having a rim of holes 28 28 respectively (Flgures 15, 16) registering with the holes 28 of the totaliser discs. Some of these holes, which are differently located in each selector, are replaced by one or more larger notches, in the form cl arcs. The selector ll comprises a single not-ch 34 occupying the place of two successive holes, whilst the selector ll comprises two notches 35, 36 each occupying the place of one hole and leaving between them a hole 28 Figures 16a, 16b and 160 show the construc tional details of one of said selectors, i. e. selector I lB. As shown, the selector comprises two parts of equal width or depth, one 333 being a circular chamber of such diameter that the button 3 r. in the projected position may turn therein freely. the other portion or chamber having a diameter equal to the diameter of shaft 52, with holes 23 arranged around its periphery except where they are replaced'by notches 36 (Figs. 16b, 16c). The selector HA (Fig. is of identical construction, except in that it has one notch 34 instead of the two notches 35, 36 of selector l In its inoperative position, the bar ll is at the end of its travel to the right (Figures 1 and 18), and the buttons 3% and 33 project vertically from said bar into the chambers 33*, 33 respectively, and face the notches 3 and 33, respectively.

To select a clerks totaliser, it is necessary to shift the actuating bar I! first axially towards the left to cause the buttons 30 to enter respectively the notches 34, 35 in front of them, and then angularly by a tenth of a turn in clockwise direction if it is desired to select the totaliser A, or of two-tenths of a turn in clockwise direction if it is the totaliser B which is to be selected. It is thus necessary to rotate bar I! through a predetermined angle in order to permit either button 30A or button 30B to project into a notch (respectively 34 or 36), before the next axial movement of bar I! takes place. Only that button which has come out of the recess 3| can, during the axial movement of the bar, engage the holes 28 of the totaliser corresponding thereto and rotate the discs of said totaliser. After a tenth of a turn, in fact, the button 3|'| remains projecting in the wide notch 34 and can thus be engaged, by a later axial movement of the bar IT. in one of the tunnels formed by the holes 28 of the discs ill of the totaliser A, whilst the button 39 has been forced back into its recess 3| by the arcuate wall of the notch 35, and remains hidden during the later axial displacement of the bar H, the narrowness of the constricted necks as preventing it from leaving its recess to engage in the holes 28 of the discs of the second clerks totaliser B. This latter is therefore eliminated while the totaliser A is selected. In other words, the button which has not entered a notch (34 or 36) of its selector, but was pushed back into the recess 3| is held in said recess during the whole operation, because the necks 29 of the holes 28 are too narrow to enable the button entering any of said holes.

If, however, totaliser B is to be selected, then the bar i1 is rotated through two tenths of a turn. At the end of this angular movement the button 38A is pressed back into the recess 3|. by the curved side of notch 34, whereas button 3813 stands in the middle of notch 36 where it projects freely. Thus during the subsequent axial movement of bar I1, the button 303 will be engaged in the holes 28 in the discs of totaliser B and said totaliser B will be selected while button A will remain hidden and totaliser A will not be operated. Thus, the second clerks totaliser B is selected. It is clear that in this way up to nine clerks totalisers could be selected by causing the bar I? to rotate by nine-tenths of a revolution, provided that each clerks totaliser were fitted with a selector having suitable notches.

Since the general totalisers G and Q partake in all registering operations, there is no selector co-operating with said totalisers. The distance pieces adjoining the totalisers G and Q and the indicator I (Fig. 1) are annular spacing rings fixed on shaft l2 and having each at their inner periphery a longitudinal groove adapted to receive the corresponding buttons 30G or 30Q respectively, whatever be the angular position of the latter or of bar H.

To effect the selection, the operating member H, in the example shown, is manipulated by the operator by means of a key 31 (Figures 2, 7 and 7a) the T end 31 of which engages in the slot at the extremity of the rack 20. This key has two webs or bits, the first of which 38 is narrow and parallel to the wings of the T, and the second 39 is wide and offset with respect to 38 by an angle corresponding to one or two tenths of a revolution according to whether it is a question of the key of the totaliser A or of that of the totaliser B. It is clear that the offsetting can run, for example, from 1 to 9 tenths of a revolution for nine difierent keys, if the register comprises nine clerks totalisers.

There is made in the outer wall 40 of the reelster, a vertical keyhole 4| for the passage of the key (Figures 1 and '7). When the key is inserted, its end 31' only comes into engagement with the slot 20 at the end of the rack 20 when the web or hit 38, placed vertically, enters the hole 4|. On continuing to insert the key, the operator pushes towards the left the rack 20 and. the actuating bar ll, thus engaging the buttons 30 into the notches 34, of the selectors H N The second web39 then abuts against the surface 40 and can only enter the hole 4| after the operator has turned the key by a tenth of a revolution if it is the key of the totaliser A, or by two-tenths of a revolution if it is the key of the totaliser B, thus causing the bar H to rotate with the spindle l2 by the angle necessary to select the desired totaliser A or B.

It will thus be seen that the web 33 enters hole 4| when the end 31' of the key comes into engagement with the slot 20 at the end of rack 28. The key then is inserted farther and it is turned only when the second web 39 abuts against the wall 40. Then the web 38 is clear of said wall and the key may be rotated.

It will be understood that this rotation of the bar with the buttons 30, MW, 30*, 38 and 30 has no action upon the totaliser discs since, during this rotation, all the buttons are engaged in the distance pieces H and selectors W, respectively, and not in the holes 28 of any totaliser discs.

The operator can then fully insert the key and thus press the bar H to the end of its travel towards the left, which has for eiTect to engage the driving buttons 30 3EI 30 or 38 and 30 respectively in the general totaliser G, the daily totaliser Q, the clerks totaliser A or B selected, and the indicator 1.

Actually the whole selection operation of the totalisers is reduced, for the operator, to inserting in the hole 4i, and pushing and rotating the key of the totaliser which he desires to select. A stop 12 arresting the web 39 opposite the hole l| avoids any groping. The general totaliser G and the daily one Q having to register all the operations of the cash register, do not give rise to selection.

After selection of the totalisers and complete displacement of the bar I! to the left, the key 37 is fully withdrawn so that the bar together with the shaft i2 and discs ii) may rotate.

The axial displacement of the bar I"! to the extreme left under the thrust of the key 3? causes a corresponding displacement of the set of pawls 24, the pawls of which slide laterally over the teeth of the discs iii. It will be noticed (Figure 1) that, in the plane of each driving button (363 3%, 38 38 and 3%) one pawl is missing in the set, and is replaced by a spacing ring 43 a little wider than a disc iii. This permits the individual discs Hi which are at the moment engaged by the driving buttons to rotate without resistance, whilst all the other discs [8 are normally blocked by the pawls. I

The unit IT-M is held in the extreme left-hand position, against the tension effect of the spring I8, by the pawl 2| which engages with the last Circular tooth adjacent the slot 2|) of the rack 28.

In this position the mechanism is ready to register an operation. To elfect this, the operator allows the unit |'l24 to come back step-by-step towards the right (Figure 1) in order to bring each button 30 successively in engagement with each of the discs H! of the totaliser in which this button is engaged. At each stoppage of the unit ||--24 produced by the engagement of a fresh tooth of the rack 20 with the pawl 2|, the operator rotates the bar i! with the spindle |2 by a number of tenths of a revolution corresponding to the number of units to be registered in the numerical order allocated to those of the discs It in engagement with the buttons 38 at the moment in questicn. These discs being opposite spaces in the set of pawls 2e, are free to rotate at this moment, but are blocked immediately afterwards by the folrotation of the wheel 55 will thus rotate the wheel 41 and handle 44 clockwise until the handle is slightly beyond the position shown in Fig. 13 when the pin 59 will act to disengage pawl 45 from wheel 41 and thus liberate 44 from any further clockwise movement. It is advisable, however, to put the handle beyond the position shown in Fig. 13 before disengaging the pawl 51 by depressing 58. This manipulation permits in particular the operator to cancel or correct a wrong manipulation of the handle 44, having had for effect to impart an incorrect number of tenths of a turn to the discs It] at the moment in engagement with the buttons 30.

When cancelling a wrong manipulation, the backward rotation of wheel 48 and of shaft l2 with bar 11 will be stopped at the moment when the incorrectly actuated disc is reset to zero, owing to the following arrangement; the discs ill! of the printing mechanism are normally engaged by the indicator discs l0. When, after an operation which is to be cancelled, the spring 56 is permitted to rotate the wheel 48 backwards, and with it the bar I! and those discs l including an indicator disc which are engaged by projections 30, the said indicator disc rotates the corresponding wheel I01 of the printing mechanism until its pin I98 (Fig. 21) is stopped by the finger I09, which happens when the discs involved are at zero.

As above stated, each lowering of the handle 44 can impart up to nine-tenths of a turn to the spindle l2, and consequently to the discs ID in engagement with the buttons 30. The capacity of rotation of the wheel 55 from one side to the other of a stop piece Eli which it strikes against at the ends of its travel through a spur piece 6|, must therefore be equal to the rotation due to the key 31 plus as many times nine-tenths of a rotation of the spindle [2 as there are teeth in the rack 20, since the latter determine the number of positions of the unit Il-24 for whichthe handle 44 can impart a movement, up to ninetenths of a turn, to successive discs ID in each totaliser. In other words it will be seen in Fig. 13 that all the rotational movements of spindle I2 are transmitted to the toothed wheel 55, which can rotate through an angle of almost 360, limited by the pin 6| striking on one or the other side of abutment 60. Supposing we have to register the highest number which is 999.99 in the constructional example illustrated, then wheel 55 must be able to turn with pinion 48 while said pinion, together with shaft l2, rotates through five times nine tenths of one turn. But previously, when the selecting operation was performed by means of key 31, the shaft l2 with its pinion 48 had already effected a partial rotation (i. e. one tenth of a turn if totaliser A was selected, or two tenths of a turn if totaliser B was selected) and this initial rotation had also been transmitted to wheel 55.

It is thus made possible by actuating the single handle 44 of the manipulator for the operator to cause the successive rotation of each of the discs Ill of each totaliser to introduce into the latter the desired number of units of each numerical order for example of the hundreds, tens, units and decimal fractions of units. At the same time as the discs ll] of the difierent totalisers, and the discs ID of the same numerical order of the indicator I are also rotated by the same amount, and they cause the appearance in a mirror 52 of an amount which is that of the operation being car ried out, the indicator starts from zero each operation. The operator can thus check in the mirror Whether the amount shown is really that which he has desired to introduce into a given digital order and, in case of error, he can correct by means of the push member 58 as described above. In other words, the indicator discs being controlled by a button 3t) which is not collapsible, the indicator will register each item entered in any one of the totalisers, starting each time from zero. The operator thus is enabled to check from the indicator the correctness of each figure in the amount recorded, and also to correct any mistake as already pointed out.

Up to the present, the general operation of the totalisers and their control by the manipulating mechanism which permits of the simultaneous rotation by the desired amount of the discs of the same numerical order in the different totalisers, has been explained. In addition to these movements effected positively, there are produced in the totalisers automatic movements for the carry-over of the tens of units of the discs of a numerical order to the discs of the higher numerical order. The carry-over of the tens is prepared automatically, in each totaliser, but it only becomes operative on the manipulation of a control crank common to all the totalisers, which permits of cancelling a carry-over arising from an incorrect item entry in a given order when the erroneous entry is cleared as long as the crank has not been actuated.

The mechanism preparing for the carry-over comprises fiat rings 63, arranged on the spindle it? where they alternate with the totaliser discs l9, each of said rings being fixed to the disc l9 located immediately to its right One of these rings 63 is shown dotted on Figure 17 behind the disc in to which it is fixed, which disc on Figure 18, is to its right. It comprises a ring of holes corresponding to the holes 28 of the disc, and it has on its periphery a notch 64 followed by a nose piece 65.

When the disc in to which the ring 53 is fixed has rotated by nine-tenths of a revolution from the zero position, in clockwise direction, (Fig. 1'7) a finger 56 which was held in position against the edge of the ring by a stop 61, enters the notch 94 and is carried along, on the following tenth of a turn of the disc, by the nose piece 65 which causes it to rock about its axis 68 beyond the plane passing through the centres of this axis and of the spindle l2. In this position of the finger 66, a spring 69 is tensioned and presses the finger against the ring, but this time upwardly. The finger 65 remains in this position as long as the ring 63 continues to rotate with its disc in in clockwis direction. But if the disc and the ring are rotated in the contrary direction, for example in order to cancel a wrongly formed figure, as explained above, the finger 66 enters the notch E4 when it comes opposite it. The ring 53 then carries it along until above the line of the centres of the spindle l2 and the axis 68, and its spring returns it into the initial position, which nullifies the preparation of the carry-over.

On the finger 66 there is fixed, opposite the next higher order disc ill, a piece 10 carrying a tooth ti, a projection 72 and a counter tooth or projecting portion 16. In the raised position of the finger, the part It through its counter tooth it bears against the stop 61 but when the finger has been rocked by the nose piece 65 to prepare the carry-over of a unit to the following disc Hi, the projection 12 comes into the trajectory of a cross-arm '13 mounted on a spindle 14 adapted to be actuated by the crank or handle 15 of the register. .The carry-overs are thus. prepared in each totaliser in the course of each operation.

When, after having efiected the operation, the operator rotates the handle 15,.the arm 13 is rotated in clockwise direction. (Fig. 1-7) by the spindle 1 2 and strikes. the projection 1 2, causing the rocking of the part 1D,,the tooth 1| of which engages between two teeth of the disc. to which the unit is to b carried over, 3 and causes this disc to be rotated by a tent h of a turn. To avoid the disc rotating further by inertia, the counter tooth 16 of the part 10 blocks the .disc immediately after it has rotatedthrough the desired angle. Rotation of the disc in the opposite direction under the influence of the spring 69 operating through the part 10 is prevented by the related pawl 24. All risk of error in the carry-overs is thus avoided.

The spindle 14 carries an arm 13 for each totaliser disc, and the successive arms are displaced angularly by 90 so as to. actuate successively the parts 10 of the successivediscs of the same total iser, in order thatthe carry-overs may be efiected from one disc to the other without omission. The arms 13 carry out three rotations for two rotations of the crank 15.v The transmission is effected by gears arranged on the left-hand side of the casing, that is to say a small pinion 11 keyed on the spindle 18 of thecrank (Figures 9 and 12), a pinion 19 of double; the diameter joined to a largerpinionBfl and a small pinion 9| keyed on the spindle 14 of. the arms 13,

A little before the end .of the movement of the crank 15 a cam 92 (Figs. .8 to 12) driven through shaft 21 by the pinion -90 actson an arm of an elbow lever 93 which it causes to oscillate about the axis 14. The other arm of the lever 93 carries the stop 61 and the axis .58 of the carry-overs fingers 66. On rocking with the lever,.the spindle 68 draws back andvall thefingerstli leave the rings 63 and can lift up into their initial position against the stop. 61 under the action of .their springs 69.

There now will .be givenan-example for explaining the carry-over operations in a totaliser, reference being made to Figs. 17a -1-'1d Supposing the amount previously recorded on totaliser A is 349.00 .and the operator .wishes to add thereto 23.00.. To that end.he has turned through two tenths of a turn the .tens disc [0 Fig. 17d) and this disc now records 4+2:6. Af-

ter escapement, the buttonillAhas engaged the units disc ID, as shownin Figs. 17a, 17b and 170.

In Fig. 17a, disc In. still records the figure 9. The ring63 rigidly connected-with J9 then is in such a position, with. respect .to the finger (56, that disc- I0 onlyhas to rotate through one tenth of a turn in orderthat-the carry over be prepared by the engagement of. finger 66 in notch 64. This position is shown in Fig. 17b.

However as the operator has to register not one unit but three units, he does not stop disc ID in the position of Figp17b but-he rotates it through three tenths of a turn, thus .bring'ing disc lflto the position shown in Fig. 170, where the figure 2 is recorded (SJ-3:12)... The Figs. 17a, 17b and 170 also show thesuccessive positions of parts 10, .1! and 12, the latter, in Fig. 170

bein in the path of travel .of the arms .turns the crank 15, thus The operator now. turning shaft 14 and its arms 13. .One of these arms strikes projection 12 and. causes the piece 19 to rotate still. further in the same direction as previously (Fig. 17d) Duri-ng this movement the tooth 1| has engageddisc l0" andcaused it to rotatethrough one tenth of a turn, so that it records the figure '7 instead .of 6, the required 1 frcm rotating further. The spring 69 being under Y.

tension will return piece 10 to its initial position as scenes the shaft 68 .and stop 51 have been withdrawn as explained before.

It will be seen that the rotation of disc l9" through one tenth of a turn, due to the carry over of one unit to said disc, does not cause a rotation of bar [1 and does not influence the other-totaliser discs.

If after committing an error, the operator rotates backwards the ring '63 (with its associated disc It), see Figs. 17c and.17b, the notch 64 allows the finger 66, drawn by ring 63 and spring to resume its initial position shown in Fig. 17. The carry over which had been prepared .by the downward movement of finger 66 thusis cancelled together with the erroneous operationwhich had caused the carry over to be prepared.

As has been stated above; the clerks totalisers A. and B are each flanked by an operation counter A E (Figure 1) constituted of discs I0 identical to those of the totalisers. At each operation registcred by a clerks totaliser the firstedisc H] of a the latter which rotates, lifts, by the action of its teethon awide boss 94 covering all the discs of the totaliser, a spring blade 95 (Figures 19 and 20) the end of which-forming a hook, is thus disengaged from a part 96 similar to the part 10 of the carry over mechanism and mounted like said part 10 on the spindle 68. .-.This piece 95 oscillates, drawn by a spring 91, itstappet- 98 comes in the path of one of the arms 13 which car- 7 ries it along when the handle 15 is rotated, so that a tooth 99 of the piece 96 causes the counter disc indicated by 10' to advance by a tenth of a revolution. As heretofore noted,.Fig. 1 shows, in axial section, the operation counters A on the left-hand side of totaliser A, and B on the lefthand side of totaliser B. These two counters are identical with each other. Fig. 20 is a top view showing, on a larger scale ..one of said counters (for example A).

It is seen from Figs. l9 and 20 that the spring blade 94, 95 is lifted as soon as any one of the discs of the corresponding totaliser .is rotated. The piece 96 thus being freed, its spring 91 causes said piece to rotate and bring the tappet 98 into the path of one of the arms 13 (whichis not illustrated in Fig. 19, but all the arms 13 are shown in Fig. 8). When the handle 15 is rotated with the shaft 14 and the arms 13 the carry over of a unit to the first disc of the counter is effected in the same manner as the carry over in the totalisers.

The carry over of tens in the counters takes place in the same manner and by means, of identical parts as the carry over in the totalisers.

These parts have not been shown in Fig. 19 in is also controlled by the rocking of the spindle The carry over.of the 68 at the end of the movement of the handle 15. It will be understood that the counter counts a unit at each operation of the corresponding clerks totaliser.

The handle or crank 15 controls, directly after each operation registered by the machine, the printing mechanism intended to print the amount of the operation on tickets delivered by the register, and to fulfill other functions such as the resetting to zero of the indicator I after each operation and of the clerks and daily totalisers at the end of the day, as also the printing of the amounts totalled by all the totalisers.

The printing mechanism (Figures 21, 22 and 25) comprises an oscillating printing head comprising a series of character discs I00, each provided. with ten teeth IN and loosely mounted side by side on a spindle I02 between two uprights I03. The latter are cross connected at the foot by a sleeve I04 fitted on to a tubular spindle I05 surrounding the spindle 18 of the crank 15, and at the top by a spindle I06 carrying a series of toothed wheels I01 of ten teeth each which engage permanently with the teeth I of the character discs. Fig. 1 shows on spindle I the sleeve I04 carrying the printing head. Said head with the sleeve I04 can slide along the whole length of spindle I05 which is coaxial with spindle 18 (Figs. 1, 21, 22, 25). Fig. 25 shows the printing head in front of totalizer A. The wheels I01 are mounted loosely on the spindle I06 and each can be carried around by it by means of a pin I 08 forced along by a radial finger I 09 of the spindle I00. In the position of rest of the printing head, the wheels I01 engage with the discs I0 of the indicator I. Consequently, each value set up on the indicator is reproduced on the printing head, the character discs I00 of which rotate in unison with the discs I0 of the indicator. This rotation of the discs I00 tensions in the boss of each of these a spiral spring IIO fixed on the the one hand to the wheel, and on the other hand to the fixed spindle I02. As shown by Figure 21, the arrangement of the printing characters on the edge of the discs I00 (the drawing shows them on the side of the disc for greater clearness) is such that the printing head can effect simultaneously two impressions of a single amount on each side of the vertical plane passing through its axis I02. Fig. 27 shows outside of the large circle the characters which print upon rollers I24 and I25. These characters pass the rollers I24 and I25 inclockwise succession when the character discs I00 turn in unison with the wheels I0 of the indicator. The sleeve I04 of the printing head is in engagement through a pin III with a longitudinal groove II2 of the tubular spindle I05, which extends up to the left-hand extremity of the register where it carries a triangular plate H3 (Fig. 10) provided with two small rollers H4, H5.

When at the end of an operation the crank is rotated, the pinion 90 rotates a cam II6 (Figure 10) which forces back the roller I I4 and thus causes the place H3 and the whole of the printing head to rock from right to left about the spindle 18, the uprights I03 being. integral with the plate through the tubular spindle I05 and the sleeve I04. The wheels I01 disengage from the discs I0 of the indicator (Figure 21) whilst a large pawl II1, pivoting on the spindle I02, which had hitherto been kept away from the wheels I01 by the meeting of a boss H8 of the stop HQ with a curved nose piece I of this 14 pawl, blocks the wheels I01 in order to prevent the springs H0 from distending.

The printing head strikes, with the interposing of an inked ribbon I2I, two bands of paper I22, I23, passing over two rollers I24, I25 and prints simultaneously the same amount on the two ribbons due to the suitable arrangement of its characters. Coming from a spool I20 (Figures 23, 24 and 25) the strip I22 is intended to be cut up into tickets delivered to the outside or" the register through a conduit I21, whilst the strip I23 constitutes the duplicate of the tickets and remains in the register for checking. It unwinds from a spool I28 to wind on to a spool I20. The conveyance from one spool to the other is effected by peripheral contact which dispenses with a special transmission between these spools I28, I29 and ensures the regular feed of the strip in spite of the variations of diameter between the spools due to the quantity of strip unwound from one spool winding on to the other. The spools carried by pivoted arms I30, I32 are drawn one towards the other and towards the roller I25 by a spring I33 attached to the axis of the spool I29.

After the printing of the tickets, the cam H6 releases the roller H4 and a spring I34 (Figure 10) acting on the plate II3, raises the printing head to bring the wheels I01 into engagement with the discs III of the indicator I. In this movement, an arm I35 keyed on the tubular spindle I05 causes, by means of a pawl I35 (Figures 23 and 26), the advancement by one tooth of a ratchet wheel I31 integral with a toothed wheel I38 which engages with two pinions I30, I40 of different diameters. The small pinion S39 keyed on the axis of the roller I24 causes the strip I22 to advance by the length of a ticket, through the intermediation of this roller I24, whilst the large pinion I40 causes the strip I23, to advance by a distance one-quarter as much, through the intermediation of the roller I25, this strip I23 constituting the duplicate of the ticket. Due to the reduction, it is possible to deliver a ticket of ordinary size whilst having a duplicate of the ticket occupying only small space on the strip I23 which therefore only takes up a little room in the register.

Each printed ticket is cut from the strip I22 by a knife I42 integral with a bent arm I43 on which the tappet Hi l keyed on the spindle 18 of the crank 15, strikes to actuate the knife at each rotation of the crank. During the first of each two revolutions of shaft III, the knife I42 receives an idle movement, since, at that time. the amount is being printed on the paper strip which has not yet been fed. forward. During the second revolution of shaft 12, the strip I22 is moved forward by the length of one ticket so that at the end of said revolution the next movement of knife M2 cuts off the printed ticket.

The return of the printing head into the raised position brings the wheels I01 into engagement with the discs In of the indicator I. Just before this takes place, the upper extremity of the curved nose piece I20 strikes the stop H8 and this disengages the pawl II1 from the wheels I01. Nevertheless, since the discs I0 are prevented from rotating counter-clockwise by their pawls 24 (Figure l) the wheels I01 remain blocked and the springs IIII remain tensioned. The amount set up therefore remains shown at the indicator. At the commencement of the following operation, the operator bearing on the pusher 58 (Figs. 1 and 13) to permit the spring 56 to bring the spindle-I2 into its initial angular position by counter-clockwise rotation, which is now possible because all buttons 30 are completely disengaged from the discs and the selectors, starts at the same time the movement for resetting the indicator to zero. To this end, a lower extension of the pusher 58 acting on a part I45 (Fig. 1) which connects all the pawls 24 blocking the discs I of the indicator I, disengages these pawls from the discs I0 which are then free to rotate. The springs IID distend causing the character wheels Hill to rotate, which wheels through the intermediation of the wheels I01, bring the discs I0 to zero by themselves coming to zero, when the pins Hi8 reach the fingers IE9. At the same time there is another stop when the pins 84' of the indicator wheels reach the stop strip I56.

There will now be described the operations of the printing mechanism in connection with the totalisers of the cash register, for the printing of the amounts accumulated at the totalisers and the resetting to zero of the latter. Whilst the portion of the printing mechanism which comprises the rollers I24, I25 and the ticket spools remains at a fixed position under the indicator I, the printing head I M, I01 constitutes a carriage which can be moved from one end to the other of the register by sliding the sleeve I04 along the tubular spindle I05, in order to be brought opposite one or the other of the tctalisers. These movements of the printing head may be controlled by the operator by means of a handle I Q6 (Figures 21 and '26) which projects through a vertical slot of the outer casing of the register, which slot forms a portion of a grid of slots in the front wall (not shown) of the outer casing.

The handle I46 is mounted on a lever I41 pivoted on the tubular spindle I95 and coupled to the printing head by the tail of the handle I 55 engaging in a catch I40 on one of the uprights Hi3. This lever carries at the top a rack with ten teeth I49 which engages with a small pinion iiiil keyed on the spindleIUB.

When the handle I46 is lowered in the vertical slot of the casing, the lever I4! engaging the catch I48 causes the printing head to swing towards the position shown in Figure 21 until the roller II of the triangular plate II3 comes into contact with a cam I5I (Figure 26) which stops the swinging movement when the wheels I0'I are disengaged from the discs II] of the indicator. On then pulling outwardly on the handle I46, its tail is caused to pass over the catch I48 and it can be further lowered with the lever I-I'I, which has for the first effect to cause said lever M1 to depress a catch I52 and thus to disengage the pawl II? from the wheels I 01, and secondly to impart by means of the rack I49 and the pinion I50 a complete revolution to the spindle I06 which rotates, by its fingers I09 the wheels I 07 and IEII. The latter are thereby reset to zero and their springs I I!) are fully wound up. The lowering of the lever is assisted by a spring I53 and is limited by a stop I54. It is held in the lowered position by inserting the tail of the handle I46 behind a stop I55 (Figure 22) formed by an extension of the spindle I06.

Still by means of the handle I46, the operator then shifts the whole printing head horizontally along the spindle I05 until it comes opposite the totaliser to be set to zero. This movement of the handle is guided in a horizontal slot of the cover of the machine; Opposite the desired totaliser a vertical slot comes-in front of the handle. The operatoncauses-the handle to move upward in this slot which 'hasfor efiec't to raise the printing head, the wheels I01 of which come into engagement with the toothed discs l0 of the totaliser (Figs. 25 and 26). At the same time a bar carried by the uprights I03, Figs. 22 and 25 engages the heels 84 of the pawls 24 appertaining to the discs I0 of the totaliser in question, thus disengaging these pawls from the discs. If the operator disengages the tail of the handle I06 from the stop I55, the springs H0 distend causing the rotation of the wheels I00 and I0! which rotate the discs I0 counter-clockwise. As will be under-- stood, this movement of the wheels I83 and it: is possible because the pawl Ill is held in inoperative position by engagement of the nose piece I20 with the stop II8.- Each disc ill will rotate until a projection 84 of its periphery strikes against a stop strip I55 on the printing head. The disc I0 is then'at zero whilst the amount which it indicated is transferred to the correspond disc I00 which has rotated by the same angle but starting from zero. For printing values corresponding to the positions in which the discs I00 are set by the totalizers, each disc Illil is provided with an additionalset of printing characters represented in Fig. 27 by the inner circular series of numerals 0 to 9: In setting the discs tilt for printing the values set up in the totalizer, said discs are thus rotated in the direction opposite that in which they revolve when being set for printing by the indicator-'1 and accordingly the printing characters-utilized in these two printing operations progress in numerical value in opposite directions circumferentially of the disc, as shown in Fig. 27. Since thejsarne operation takesplace for each disc of the totaliser and 01" the printing head the amount and if desired the identification letters registered on the totaliser are transferred to the printingheadwhere they are inscribed in the plane passing through the axis Hi2, whilst the entire totaliser-is wholly reset to zero.

If the operator then rotates the crank 75, the printing head oscillates under the action of the cam I I6 as previously described and prints the amount of the totaliser on an account sheet or docket supported by a roller I5'I- under the inked ribbon I2I in the plane passing through the axis I02.

The operation is repeated for the resetting to zero of each totaliser, and the printing of the amount registered thereby. After the resetting to zero of the totaliser, a spring 85 (Figs. 1'7 and 25) attached to the bar-86 of the unit I'I- ZS brings each pawl 24 back intozengagernentwith its disc I 0, to block it.

A pawl I 58 (Fig. 1) actuated at the commencement of each operation of theregister by the unit II--24 acts on a ratchet wheel I59 to cause the feed forward of the inked ribbon I2l,.so as to avoid it being used constantly at the same place.

The disengagement of the'pawls 24 which is produced to permit the rotation of the discs Ii? in clockwise direction, under the action of the carry-over mechanism previously described, is only possible when the unit I'I-Zt is at the terminal position of traveltowards the right. The sleeve 26 like the pawl 24 is controlled by a spring attached to the bar-86 and which tends to rock the sleeve clockwise. In this position the sleeve 26, on whichare fitted the eyes of the pawls, is free to rotate. When a pawl oscillates under the thrust of a disc I0 rotating clockwise, it carries the sleeve 26 with it by a notch 01 of its eye 25 and a rib 88 of the'sleeve (Fig; 25). This latter 17' pivots with the pawl which has oscillated, but its movement does not influence the other pawls of the comb, in the-notches 81 of which the rib 88 can freely move.

Butwhen the unit l'l--24 is moved towards the left to select and actuate the totalisers, the sleeve 26 is prevented from rotating by the engagement of a pin Mil on the shaft 21 with a slot I60 on said sleeve 26 (Fig. 2) and it no longer permits the oscillation of the pawls 211 during the manipulation of the totalisers by means of the bar I! and or the driving buttons 30. It follows that all the discs of the totalisers are blocked except those which are in engagement with the buttons 30 and opposite which the comb of pawls is interrupted, as explained above.

It is shown by the present description that the cash register according to the invention is capable of carrying out a large number of operations with a comparatively small number of members and devices. Naturally, the invention is not restricted to the particular members and devices which have been described by way of example, and its scope wouldnot be departed from by introducing modifications.

I claim:

1. In combination, a movable printing head carriage, printing discs rotatably mounted in said carriage, two sets of numerical printing characters arranged on each disc and progressing in numerical value in opposite directions circumferentially or" said disc, the characters of one set being displaced with relation to the other set circumferentially of each disc, and separate impression members for the sets of characters relatively displaced in accordance with the displacement of said characters, means effective in one position of the carriage to variably turn the discs in one direction to position the characters of one set with respect to the related impression member, and means effective in another position of the carriage to variably turn the discs in the opposite direction to position the characters of the other set with respect to the related impression member.

2. In combination, a movable printing head carriage, printing discs rotatably mounted in said carriage, pairs of numerical printing characters on each disc, the characters of each pair being relatively displaced and having the same numerical value and the numerical values of the successive pairs progressing in one direction circumferentially of each disc, separate impression members for the sets of characters relatively displaced in accordance with the displacement of said characters and arranged to cooperate with the printing characters in one position of said carriage, a further set of numerical printing characters on each disc, the numerical value of the characters of said further set progressing in the opposite direction circumferentially of the disc, and an impression member for the characters of said further set arranged to cooperate with the characters of said set in another position of the carriage.

3. In combination, a movable printing head carriage, printing discs rotatably mounted in said carriage, two sets of numerical printing characters arranged on each disc and progressing in numerical value in opposite directions circumferentially of said disc, the characters of one set being displaced with relation to the other set circumferentially of each disc, means for shifting said carriage into difierent positions in the direction of the axis of said discs, and separate impression members for said sets of characters re- 18 spectively occupying positions displaced in one direction in accordance with the circumferential displacement of the characters and in the other direction in accordance with the different positions of the carriage.

4. In combination, a movable printing head carriage, printing discs rotatably mounted in said carriage, two sets of numerical printing characters arranged on each disc and progressing in numerical value in opposite directions circumferentially of said disc, the characters of one set being displaced with relation to the other set cir-.- cumferentially of each disc, means for shifting said carriage into different positions in the direction of the axis of said discs, separate impression members for said sets of characters respectively occupying positions displaced in one direction in accordance with the circumferential displace-ment of the characters and in the other di': rection in accordance the different positions of the carriage, and means operable in the difier-r ent positions of the carriage for rotating the discs in opposite directions to selectively position the characters of the two sets with respect to the related impression members.

5. In combination, an impression member, a plurality of control mechanisms located in positions disposed longitudinally of said impression member, a printing head carriage movable in one direction into positions corresponding with the location of selected control mechanisms and including printing discs engageable and selectively settable by the selected control mechanism upon movement of the carriage in another direction,

, and means for effecting relative movement of said carriage and impression member to cause the discs to print upon an area of the impression member corresponding with the position of the control mechanism utilized to set said discs.

6. In combination, a longitudinal impression member, a plurality of control mechanisms located in positions disposed longitudinally of said impression member, a printing head carriage movable in one direction into positions corresponding with the location of selected control mechanisms and including printing discs engageable and settable by the selected control mechanism upon movement of the carriage in another direction, and means for operating the printing head to cause the discs to print upon an area of the impression member corresponding with the position of the control mechanism utilized to set said discs.

'7. In combination, a printing head carriage movable into two positions, printing discs rotatable in said carriage, rotatable setting members, means operable in one position of said carriage for transmitting setting movement of said setting members in one direction to said discs, releasable means for retaining said setting members in set position, means for releasing the retaining means to effect the simultaneous release of the several setting members an impression member engageable by said printing discs in a second position of said carriage, and spring means supported by the carriage and operable in the first position of said carriage upon release of said retaining means by the releasing means to return the discs and setting members in the opposite direction.

8. In combination, a printing head carriage movable into two positions, printing discs rotatable in said carriage, rotatable setting members, means mounted in said carriage and operable in one position of said carriage for transmitting setting movement of said setting members in one amt-e9 1.) direction to said discs, releasable means for retaining said setting members in set position,

means for releasing the retaining means to effect the simultaneous release of the several setting members an impression member engageable by said printing discs. in a second position of said carriage, spring means operable in the first position of said carriage upon release of said retaining means by the releasing means to return the discs and setting members in the opposite direction, and means to limit the return movement of the discs and setting members,

9; In combination, a printing head carriage movable into two positions, printing discs rotatable in said carriage, rotatable setting members,, means mounted in said carriage and operablein one position of said carriage for transmitting setting movement of said setting members in one direction to said discs, releasable means for retaining said setting members in set position, means for releasing the retaining means to eiIect the simultaneous release of the several setting members an impression member engageable by said printing discs in a second position of said carriage, and spring means supported by the carriage and operable in the first position of said carriage, upon release of said retaining means by the releasing means to return the discs and setting members in the opposite direction.

10. In combination, a printing head carriage movable in two positions, printing discs rotatable in said carriage, rotatable toothed setting members, gears rotatable in said cariage and engageable with said settin members for transmitting setting movement of said setting members to said discs in one position of the carriage, releasable means for retaining said settable members in settable position, means for releasing the retaining means to efiect the simultaneous release of the several setting members an impression member engageable by said printing discs in a second position of said carriage, and spring means operable in the first position of said carriage upon release of said retaining means by said releasing means to return said discs, gears and setting members'in the opposite direction.

11. In combination, a printing head carriage mounted to swing into printing position, settable printing discs rotatable in said carriage, spring means effective, when tensioned, to rotate said discs in one direction, manually controlled means for t'ensioning said spring means, adjustable means engageable by said discs for variably limiting the movement of said discs under the influence of said spring means, and means operable when said carriage is swung toward printing position to lock said discs in set position following disengagement of said discs from said adjusting means.

12. In combination, a printing head carriage mounted to swing in opposite directions into printin and setting positions, printing discs rotatable in said carriage, rotatable control members settable in one direction to selected positions, means for establishing a driving connection between said printing discs andsaid control members in the-setting position of said carriage, spring means effective to' drive the printing discs and rotate the set control members in the opposite direction through the drive connection means, manually operable means for tensioning said spring means, andmeans for limiting the rotation of the control members in said opposite direction to determine the printing position of said printing discs.

13. An arrangement asclaimed in claim 12, wherein said tensioning means includes a shaft, a manually operable lever for-rotating saidshaft, and means for impartin the movement of said to said drive connection means.

MARCEL DEMEULENAERE.

REFERENCE-S CITED The following references are of record. in the lire of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 433,728 Hadley Aug. 5, 1890 703,335 Cottrill June 24, 1902 907,577 Diehl 1 Dec. 22, 1908 1,063,180 Canine June 3, 1913 1,088,812 Dement Mar. 3, 1914 1,149,342 Carroll Aug. 10, 1915 1,167,332 Brown Jan. 4, 1916 1,305,546 Jessen June 3, 1919 1,311,884 Fuller Aug. 5', 1919 1,359,173 Horton 1- Nov.. 16, 1920 1,389,214 Payne Aug. 30, 1921 1,404,443 King Jan. 24, 1922 1,776,076 Kuhrt Sept. 16,1930 1,823,262 Errera Sept. 15, 1931 1,873,125 Fuller Sept. 20, 1932 2,034,542 Thomas Mar. 17, 1936 2,041,752 Fuller. May 26, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 798,042 France May 8, 1936 

